Shoe attachment.



P. KENVILLE.

SHOE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATlON FILED MR. 7. I916.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

WITNESSES:

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PAUL xnifvrtnn, or rnrl'roiv, CALIFORNIA.

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"Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented see. 19, 1916.

I .Applicationfiled March 7,1916. SeriaINo. 82,583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL 'IQENVILLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Felton, in the county "of Santa Cruz and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toan attachment for boots or shoes while being worn; and it consists of flexible sections adapted to be fitted over the front portion ofthe foot and shoe, said. flexible portion being provided with means by which it may be made adherent to the surface over which the person may travel and prevent the shoe from slipping or from similar accidents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig- 3 is a transverse section. Fig.. 4 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 5 shows a means to fit the device to different widths of shoes. 1

For various purposes. where a firm adherence of the footisnecessaryin the work or sport for which the shoe is designed, it has been customary to fix projecting knobs or creepers to the sole of the shoe, or to form the sole entirely of rubber and like material.

In my invention I form avamp or upper of sufficient size to slip over the front of the shoe. This vamp is made in sections AA, meeting centrally and having lacing holes along the edges through which a cord may be drawn to fit this supplemental upper closely to the foot. This part A may. also be slit transversely, as shown at 2, which allows for an, increased flexibility, and the lower edges of each of the side members A have secured to them transverse cleats. of such a character as may be necessary for the particular work for which they are to; be used. Thus for mountain climbing or walking over rough and rocky surfaces the cleats may be in the form of bars 3, of steel, having upturned flanges hwhich may be riveted to the lower edges of the parts A. The transverse portions ofthe bars are turned downwardly, as shown at 5.. These downwardly projecting portions may be either in the form of thin continuous plates, extending across the sole, or they may be serrated or have separated points turned down from them, adapted to enter the surface upon which the shoe is being used and thus hold it firmly and prevent slipping, such as in work on inclined roofs or shingles where the workmen will be able to walk about without danger of slipping.

In order to make this attachment perfectly flexible, I have shownthese bars separated from each other and this allows the flexible body members A to yield to the step of a person and allow, the cleats to move, with relation to each other, separating and closing as the step is taken. In order to properly support the edges of theleather vamp, to which the cleats are separately secured, I have shown links 6 which extend across the lower edges of the parts A, between the fastenings of the cleats, and across the open spaces between them. These links are pivoted upon pins or rivets 7 which pass through the ends contiguous to the separated ed es of the cleats at these points, and theselinlis serve to reinforce the leather where the open spaces between the links occur and at the same time to allow it a suflicient amount of flexibility so that it will properly yield when the device is being employed. I f

These devices may be made any size to fit certain sizes of shoes, or they may be provided with cleats which may be lengthened or shortened for diiferent widths of shoes, and the lacing at the upper part of the flexible members will serve to adjust this portion to the shoe.

As shown in Fig. 5, the cleats may be made in two parts slidable with relation to each other; one part 3 being slidable upon the other part. One of these parts may have slots formed init and the other may have lugs or hooks adapted to engage the slots and thus hold them rigidly at any point of adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 'is I 1. A11 attachment for shoes, consistingof a pair of flexible members with the upper meeting edges adapted to be laced together oven the front top portion of a shoe, and connected together at the bottom by a plurality of transverse, independent cleats having upturned securing flanges and pivoted links flexibly connecting the upturned flanges.

2. A holding attachment for shoes, consisting of flexible members adapted to be laced together at the top, and having transverse slits, independent, separated cleats having holding surfaces to engage the surface upon which the shoe is to be used, said cleats having upturned flanges adapted to be secured independently to the lower edges of the first named members, and links piv- I cleats having downwardly projecting holding portions, and upwardly turned flanges secured to the lower edges of the flexible members, sald cleats belng formed of overlapping adjustable sections, and links flexibly connecting the upwardly turned side flanges.

j Aa An attachment of the character described, comprising a flexible portion adapted to be engaged over and secured to the forward part of a shoe, said attaching portion'having relatively free side edges, and

metal cleat members each having a flat portion to bridge said s1de edges and contact with the under surface of the sole, and antl- -slipping means depending therefrom, said cleat members being connected at the ends thereof to the side. edges of said flexible securingportionand spaced apart to be relatively independent, with portions of the flexibleflside edges of the securing portion therebetween.

' -51 attachment of the character described, comprising a flexible portion adapted' to be engaged over and secured to the forward part of a shoe, said attaching portion having relatively free side edges, and metal cleat members each having a flat portion to bridge said side edges and contact with the under surface of the sole, and antislipping means depending therefrom, said cleat members being connected at the ends thereofto the side edges of said flexible securing portion and spaced apart to be relatively independent, with portions of the flexible side edges of the securing portion therebetween, the respective cleats having integral upturned end flanges overlying said free edges of the. flexible securing portion to constitute in part the securing means for the cleat members.

' 6. An attachment of the character de- Copies of this patent may be obtained for be relatively independent with portions of the flexible side edges of the securing portion therebetween, the respective cleats having integral upturned end-flanges overlying said free edges of the flexible securing portion to constitute in part the securing means for the cleats, and downwardly turned edge flanges constituting ground-engaging projections.

7 A11 attachment of the character described, comprising a flexible portion adapted to be engaged over and secured to the forward part of a shoe, said attaching portion having relatively free side edges, separate metal cleat members each having a flat portion to bridge'said side edges and contact, with the under surface of the sole, and antislipping 'mea'ns depending therefrom, and means securing the end portions of the cleat members" along said free edges of the flexible attaching portion at the sides thereof to permit independent movement of the respective cleat members. 5

8. An attachment of the character described, comprising a flexible portion adapted to be engaged over and secured to the forward part of a shoe, saidvattaching por tion having relatively free side edges, separate sheet metal cleats bridging said side edges andadapted to occupya position be neath the shoe to constitute in part a flat bearing for the shoe sole and means securing the end portions of the cleats along said free edges of the flexible attaching portion at the sides thereof to permitiindependent movement of the respectivecleats, each cleat being of approximately inverted trough shape with its flanges constituting the groundengaging projections.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL KENVILLE. Witnesses i NICHOLAS PAUL SINNOTT, 7 CHARLES ALEXANDER Josnieri MATTING.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at Iatents,

Washington, D. 0. i 

